Apparatus for treating wood and dip treating various articles



R. M. TABOR 2,377,053

APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOOD AND DIP TREATING VARIOUS ARTICLES May 29, 1945.

2 SheetIs-Shet 1 JNVENTOR. fscoaflf 726p) Filed April 28, 1942 y2 ,1 45. R. MITABOR 5 2, 11,053

APPARATUS FOR TREATING WOOD AND DIP TREATING VARIOUS ARTICLES Filed April 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3/ j Z5 9 23 5 is 9/ P my 36 3 Z l J 2a 13" 1 l// 0 1122; l/ w a I w 7 I m m W II W' 5 HIM a, j J INVENTOR. Z4 34-2 faaaae Ziar Patented May 29, 1945 APPARATUS FoR TREA INGWOOD AND DIP TREATING V RIO S A TICLES Roscoe M. Tabor, Kalamazoo, Mich. Application April 28, 1942, Serial No. 440,384

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for treating wood and dip treating various articles.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved apparatus for treating wood by dipping, in which the dipping process may be carried out as a continuous operation. at high capacity output, with uniformly satisfactory results.

Second, to provide an apparatus of the type described for treating boards or plank, or panels or the like by dipping the same in a treating liquid, wherein a relatively small amount of the liquid need be employed, and wherein said liquid is conserved to the greatest possible degree.

Third, to provide a dipping apparatus of the class described, which is relatively simple in structure, which may be operated for long periods of time with a continuous high output and which requires little supervision in the operation thereof. Fourth, to provide an apparatus of the type described including a dip tank or vat, and novel means operated during the normal course of the operation of the apparatus for cleaning and removing foreign material, sediment and the like from the bottom of the tank.

Further objects relating to details and economics of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims. I

A structure embodying the features of my inyention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation illustrating the dip treating machine or apparatus of my invention, including means associated therewith for feeding lumber panels or the like thereto and for discharging said objects therefrom following the dip treatment.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating certain structural details and the relationship thereof in the apparatus of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View partially broken away and in longitudinal vertical section, illustrating a modified embodiment of the rotary drum structure comprised in the apparatus of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view,

partially broken away and in section, illustrating another embodiment of a liquid displacing member.

Fig. "5 is a fragmentaryview in transverse section illustrating the method which I employ for cleaning and removing foreign matter or sediment from the drum of theapparatus, likewise illustrating details of the special cleaning or scraping device employed for this purpose in conjunction with the apparatus, and

Fig. 6 is aperspective view further illustrating the structure of said cleaning or'scraping device,.the operation and relation to the apparatus of which is illustrated in Fig. 5. V

This invention relates to an apparatus for dip treating lumber or like objects in large quantities. Though particularly devised for the treatment of boards, planks and the like of wood by dipping them into a tank or vat containing a preservative or water proofing liquid, I am aware that the structure to be described is also well adapted for the dip treatment of other generally elongated objects other than lumber, in liquids of different character, for example, stains, paints, varnishes and the like. Accordingly, I do not wish to be unduly limited. as to the character of the dipping treatment per se, nor the character of the board or plank-like objects treated.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral I designates a suitable base or foundation upon which aremounted heavy cast and frame or standard members 2, adapted to journal various operating shafts included in the structure to-be hereinafter described. These frame members are spaced and braced by a spacer or strut rod 3. Base I also supports a plurality of cradlelike castings 4 upon which the vat or tank 5 is mounted. This tank extends practically the entiredistance between the two frame members 2 so as to be capable of handling lumber of commercial lengths, and is generally semicircular in section,. extending throughout somewhat more than degrees, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. Tank 5 is substantially filled (with the qualifica tion to' be described) with the treating liquid, in the particular treatment contemplated designated by the reference numeral 6. Tank 5 is provided with suitable semicircular end closure walls'l.

Framemembers 2 have rotatably mounted therein by. means of suitable journals the drum drive shaft 8 to which is keyed the cylindrical drum 9 closed in, a liquid tight manner atits opposite ends by the .end walls In. Drum 9 is concentric with the curvature of tank 5 and is of such radiusas to extend substantially therein and occupy a large percentage of the space thereof, though being in sufficiently spaced relation to the semi-cylindrical tank to enable an adequate amount of liquid 6 to be contained in the arcuate or segmental space between the drum and tank for the proper impregnating treatment of the work. It is of essential importance in the invention that the interior of drum 9 be sealed from the liquid in the tank. This has the very distinct advantage that the amount of liquid required for the treatment is greatly reduced, much of the interiorvolume of the tank being occupied by the large cylindrical drum, which thus functions as a liquid displacing member; and likewise the area of liquid exposed to the atmosphere is greatly reduced, thereby minimizing evaporation. This also avoids the necessity of cleaning the interior of the drum which is of particular importance where a change is made from one kind of treating fluid to another. Both of these features are exceedingly important, inasmuch as the treating liquids employed are usually very expensive so that undue loss thereof from evaporation, leakage, loss by dripping and the like is to be avoided. Most dripping mechanisms of which I am aware are uniformly characterized by the fact that a large surface expanse of the dip liquid is exposed to atmosphere or carried out of the dipping tank or vat by the mechanical conveying mechanism for further exposure to the atmosphere and loss by evaporation or otherwise. The above described structure eliminates this disadvantage.

Drum 9 is provided along its length with uniformly spaced annular shoulders or lands ll upon which sprocket teeth I2 are formed or provided, said sprocket teeth being in driving engagement with conveyor chains I3 encircling the lower portion of drum 9. These chains extend upwardly and over a sprocket or pulley hi, there being one for each toothed land or set of sprocket teeth [2 on the drum, and are located respectively in alinement with said teeth. Sprockets M are of substantially smaller diameter than the drum 9 so that the reaches of the conveyor chains l3 above the drum converge upwardly, and the sprockets are keyed to a second shaft 15 mounted in bearings in the end frame members 2.

The main drum drive shaft 8 is driven by a gear [6 fixed thereon meshing with a drive pinion ll, the latter being driven through a speed reduction mechanism 18 and clutch (not shown) from a motor [9 mounted to one side of, or permissibly on, base I. As illustrated in Figs. land 2, I likewise provide a clutch actuating lever 20 coacting with a suitable clutch (not shown) for controlling the driving connection from the motor l9. Lever 20 is mounted on a rock shaft 2| extending along the front of tank and rockably mounted in the tank supporting cradle castings 4. A treadle 22 secured to the rock shaft is conveniently available for actuation by an attendant or attendants should it be desired to interrupt the rotation of drum 9 or the travel of chains [3 at any time.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 the chains [3 are provided with front and rear flights-23, 24, respectively, constituting coacting pairs. The pairs of chains 13 are horizontally alined so that a piece of work as the board or plank 25 may be placed on the horizontally alined flights by an attendant or attendants and is uniformly supported thereby as the conveyor travels downwardly and into the tank in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. Rearfiights 24 engage the rear of the work when the same is .immersed in the treating liquid 6 and force it through the arcuate liquid filled space, as well as to support the work as it travels upwardly on the rear, inwardly convergent reach of the conveyor following dipping.

The upwardly and inwardly convergent character of the reaches of the conveyor above the drum 9 resulting from the fact that sprockets M are of smaller diameter than the drum, insures that the work will be suitably and stably supported thereon during the travel outside of the tank. Immediately adjacent each of the sprockets I4 I preferably position a circular delivery disk 26 of a diameter sufficient to extend radially beyond the chains [3 at that point, so

that the work as it reaches the upper extremity of its travel passes onto these disks and is advanced outwardly or forwardly thereby to a delivery position.

The reference numeral 21 generally designates a horizontal roller feed table on which the work I is advanced to convenient position in front of the tank 9, as illustrated in Fig. 1, there to be grasped by an attendant or attendants and placed on a downwardly advancing set of supporting cleats 23. This roller table is appropriately supported on the tank frame, as by suitable legs or standards 28. Forwardly of the machine and adjacent the point of discharge of the'work from the discharge disks 26, I provide an inclined roller discharge ramp, generally designated 28, suitably supported by the braces 30 from the frame. 'Between this ramp and the delivery disks 26 I provide a further short, transversely disposed and downwardly inclined roller ramp 3| onto the rollers of which the work is discharged by the delivery disks 2B, the work 25 rolling downwardly over ramp 3! onto the inclined discharge ramp 29 on which it is laterally discharged by gravity in the manner indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

The above described apparatus functions very effectively and at high capacity, the output of the treated articles being continuous and rapid, with very little attention on the part of an attendant or attendants other than filling the tank, positioning the work on the conveyor, and if necessary manipulating the treadle 22 to halt or start the operation of the conveyor. The objects treated are maintained in the liquid for a sufficient length of time to become thoroughly coated or impregnated, notwithstanding the fact that the amount of liquid employed would only fill a much smaller tank under previous methods wherein an open conveyor system is employed, and would by no means adequately fill the tank of the present invention, lacking the relatively large liquid displacing drum.

In the treatment of a large number of pieces of lumber as described above it is usually found that, due to the presence of sawdust, sanding, dust, dirt or other foreign matter on the lumber the bottom of the tank 5 accumulates a deposit of such matter or other sediment which it is necessary to remove when there has been a sub stantial amount accumulated. For this purpose I have provided a cleaning device which is very effective and may be used without stopping the machine. This device is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and comprises a sheet-metal tray-like body member 32 of rectangular outline having side and end walls. The length of said member is somewhat greater than the distance between a pair of the conveyor chains 13 of the apparatus and it is provided on its rear side with groove-like recess 33 spaced equal to the spacing of the conveyor chains and adapted to receive the same in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. A fiat rectangular scraper member 34 is pivoted at the rear wall 35 of the member 32, being urged outwardly from said member, by means of a coil spring 36 interposed between the members and encircling a stud mounted interiorly of member 32. The scraper 34 is provided with an aperture receiving said stud.

In the use of the cleaning device described above th scraper 34 is compressed against the action of spring 36 and the device positioned over the chains l3 between acoacting pair of flights. The forward and downward movement of the conveyor thus carries the device into the space between drum 9 and the tank, whereupon the scraper 34 is released so that spring 36 urges the same against the wall of the tank. In this position it is carried around the inner surface of the tank and scoops up sediment, designated 31, in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The

, members 32, 34 then carry such material upwardly out of the tank, where the cleaning device is removed and emptied. This device is successively positioned over the pairs of chains longitudinally of the tank until all the successive sections of the length thereof have been scraped out.

In ,Fig. 3 I illustrate a slightly modified embodiment of the drum structure, wherein individual hollow cylindrical sealed drum elements 38 are employed, the same being keyed to the shaft 8, or a shaft corresponding thereto, for rotation therewith, with sprockets 39 disposed therebetween for the driving reception of the conveyor carrying chain. Any number of these sections corresponding to the desired length of the tank may be employed, and like the integral drum 9, they function to displace a large amount of space in the tank so that comparatively little liquid treating material need be employed.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the primary purpose of the drum, 9 or 38, is to provide a relatively long path of travel of the work through the liquid in the tank and, in doing so, to fill up a'large volume of the tank so that a minimum amount of liquid may be employed and loss of the liquid, minimized. Accordingly, if desired, it is possible to substitute for drums 9, 38 a still further modified form of tank occupying and liquid displacing member such as I have illustrated in Fig. 4, This consists of a, hollow elongated and sealed member which is in the form of a segment of a cylinder in section, being somewhat over 180 degrees in angular extent. It is a relatively stationary member, i. e., not intended to rotate on the shaft 8 or equivalent shaft, hence is provided with a bearing member and seal 4| surrounding the shaft at either end of the member 40 to prevent entrance of liquid therein, The conveyor chains are driven by means of sprockets 42 at either end of member 40, said sprockets being keyed to the driven shaft 8. Member 40 is positioned and restrained from a tendency to rotate by means of a bracket 43 rigidly secured thereto and to the spacer or bracing rod 3, or

equivalent rigid member on the frame. Member 40 is positioned in the tank with the arcuate surface thereof in approximately the same generally concentric relation to the cylinder tank as is illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby filling a large portion of the volume of the tank. This feature is common to all of the three embodiments. The transpontation of the planks through the treating liquid on cleat bearing chains trained about sprockets 42 is likewise common to all forms of the invention.

. The foregoing apparatus is simple, easy to manipulate, effective, in the results it makes possible and has a continuous high output. Above all it is economical in the amount of liquid that is employed, and the latter need be replenished comparatively infrequently, the loss other than in the desired coating or impregnating of the planks, being neglible.

Embodiments of the invention which incorporate the principles of the invention in a, highly desirable manner have been illustrated and described, though I am aware that other embodiments within the intent of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It should be understood that the foregoing terminology is used only descriptively rather than'in a limiting sense, andwlth full intention to include equivalents of the features shown and described, within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1, An apparatus for treating elongated work by dipping in a treating liquid, comprising an elongated tank of arcuate, generally cylindrical section, a rotatable hollow cylindrical drum member generally concentric with said tank and extending therein to such a position as defines with said tank a relatively narrow segmental space between said member and tank which is adapted to be filled with said treating liquid, the interior of said drum member being sealed from said liquid, a chain conveyor device for conveying the work through said space and liquid therein, comprising a, plurality of conveyor chains disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of said tank, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of vertically alined rotatable sprockets, the sprockets of said pairs being carried by said drum member and rotatably mounted an axes respectively above the same, said respective chains being trained over pairs of said alined sprockets to travel through the tank and horizontally aligned flights attached to said conveyor chains and engageable with the work for conveying the same through said liquid filled space, and means for actuating said drum member, sprockets and chains.

2. An'apparatus for treating elongated work by dipping in a treating liquid, comprising an elongated tank of arcuate, generally cylindrical section, a hollow generally cylindrical member generally concentric with said tank and extendingtherein to such a position as defines with said tank a relatively narrow segmental space between said member and tank which is adapted to be filled with said treating liquid, the interior of said member being sealed from said liquid, a chain conveyor device for conveying the work through said space and liquid therein, comprising a plurality of conveyor chains disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of said tank, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of vertically alined rotatable sprockets, thesprockets of said pairs being rotatably mounted on axes respectively above the member and generally concentric therewith, said respective chains being trained over pairs of said alined sprockets to travel through the tank and dipping in a treating liquid, comprising an elongated tank, a hollow member extending insaid tank to such a position as defines with said tank a relatively narrow space between said member and tank which is adapted to be filled with said treating liquid, the interior of said member being sealed from said liquid, a chain conveyo device for conveying the work through said space and liquid therein, comprising a plurality of conveyor chains disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of said tank, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of vertically alined rotatable sprockets, the sprockets of said pairs being rotatably mounted on axes respectively above the member adjacent and transverse the member, said respective chains being trained over pairs of said alined sprockets to travel through the tank and horizontally aligned flights attached to said conveyor chains and engageable with the work for conveying the same through said liquid filled space, and means for actuating said sprockets and chains.

4. An apparatus for treating Work by dipping in a treating liquid, comprising a tank, a sealed hollow cylindrical rotatable drum extending into said tank to such a position as defines therewith a relatively restricted arcuate space between said drum and tank for containing the treating'liquid, a continuous conveyor device traveling around said drum in the tank and conveying the work through said space and liquid therein, comprising a plurality of horizontally alined flights supportingly engageable with the work to convey the same through said liquid, and means for actuating said conveyor device.

5. An apparatus for treating work by dipping in a treating liquid, comprising a tank, a sealed hollow drum extending into said tank to such a position as defines therewith a relatively restricted space between said drum and tank for containing the treating liquid, 9. continuous conveyor device traveling around said drum in the tank and conveying the work through said space and liquid therein, comprising a plurality of flights supportingly enagageable with the work to convey the same through said liquid, and means for actuating said conveyor device,

o. In anapparatus for t-reat' ng articles by dipping in a treating liquid, an elongated tank of arcuate section, a hollow arcuate member at least in part of similar curvature extending longitudinally of the tank and arranged generally concentric of the latter to define with said tank a restricted segmental space between said member and tank adapted to contain treating liquid, the interior of said elongated member being sealed irom entry of said liquid therein when said memher is immersed in said liquid, and chain conveyor means for transporting said articles around said member and through said space, comprising rotatable sprockets generally concentric with said elongated member and of a radius approximating that of said member, further sprockets of lesser radius positioned in spaced relation to said mem-- ber, and flight bearing chains trained about said sprockets engageable with said articles to convey the same through said space.

7. In an apparatus for treating articles by dipping in a treating liquid, a tank of arcuate section, a hollow arcuate member at least in part of similar curvature arranged generally concentric of the tank and extending therein to define with said tank a restricted segmental space between said member and tank adapted to contain treating liquid, the interior of said arcuate member bein sealed from entry of said liquid therein when said member is immersed in said liquid, and chain conveyor means for transporting said articles around said member and through said space, comprising rotatable sprockets generally concentric with said arcuate member and of a radius approximating that of said member, further sprockets in spaced relation to said member, and flight bearing chains trained about said sprockets engageable with said articles to convey the same through said space.

8. In an apparatus for treating articles by dipping in a treating liquid, a tank of arcuate section, a hollow arcuate member at least in part of similar curvative arranged generally concentric of the tank and extending therein to define with said tank a restricted segmental space between said member and tank adapted to contain treating liquid, the interior of said elongated member being sealed from entry of said liquid therein when said member is immersed in said liquid, an endless conveyor means having attached thereto and projecting laterally therefrom article engaging means for transporting said articles around said member and through said filled space.

9. The combination with a machine for treating articles by dipping the same in a liquid treating agent, said machine comprising an open tank of arcuate section, a rotatable hollow member of arcuate section disposed in said tank in spaced relation to the arcuate wall thereof, rotatable toothed drive means rotatably mounted generally concentric with said member and a plurality of chains drivingly engaging said means having outwardly extending horizontally alined cleats engageable with the articles, of a device for removing sediment, foreign matter and the like deposited on the bottom of said tank, comprising a removable tray provided with indentations positionable respectively over said chains and rearwardly engageable with flights on the latter to advance the tray with the chains, a scraper pivoted on the rear of said element and a spring resilient- 1y urging said scraper in a direction to separate the same from the element, said scraper engaging the inner surface of said arcuate tank as the device is aotuated therethrough by said chain to scrape said matter from the bottom of the tank.

10. The combination with a machine for treating articles by dipping the same in a liquid treating agent, said machine comprising an open tank of arcuate section, a hollow member of arcuate section disposed in said tank in spaced relation to the arcuate wall thereof, rotatable toothed drive means rotatably mounted generally concentric with said member and a plurality of chains drivingly engaging said means having outwardly extending horizontally alined cleats engageable with the articles, of a device for removing sediment, foreign matter and the like deposited on the bottom of said tank, comprising a tray removably engageable with flights on the chains to advance the tray with the chains and a scraper pivoted on the rear of said element and engaging the inner surface of said arcuate tank as the device is actuated therethrough by said chain to scrape said matter from the bottom of the tank.

11. The combination with a machine for treating work by dipping the same in a liquid treating agent, said machine comprising an open tank of arcuate section, a relatively large member of arcuate section at least in part disposed to extend into said tank in spaced relation to the arcuate wall thereof to define with said arcuate wall a restricted annular space for containing the liquid treating agent, and a, conveyor device including drive cleats traveling through said space to convey articles therethrough, of a device for removing sediment, foreign matter and the like deposited on the bottom of said tank, comprising a, emovable member rearwardly engageable with a, flight on the conveyor device to advance the same with the device, and a scraper on said element resiliently engaging the inner surface of said arcuate tank Wall as the device is actuated therethrough 10 by said conveyor device;

12. The combination with a machine for treating work by dipping the same in a liquid treating agent, said machine comprising an open tank of -arcuate section, a relatively large member disl5 posed to extend into said tank in spaced relation to the arcuate wall thereof to define with said arcuate wall a restricted annular space for containing the liquid treating agent, and a conveyor device including drive cleats traveling through said space to convey articles therethrough, of a device for removing sediment, foreign matter and the like deposited on the bottom of said tank, comprising a removable member rearwardly engageable with a flight on the conveyor device to advance the same with the device, and a scraper on said element resiliently engaging the inner surface of said arcuate tank wall as the device is actuated therethrough by said conveyor device.

ROSCOE M. TABqR. 

